Bright futures, motherly love: All that was crushed in Saket building collapse

A day after a multi-storey commercial building collapsed near Delhi's Saket Metro station, the death toll rose to six on Sunday (May 31), while eight were injured. Rescue teams continued clearing debris through the day, even as authorities said all those trapped under the rubble had been accounted for.

The collapse occurred on Saturday (May 30) evening in a busy commercial area that houses coaching institutes, libraries, cafes, offices, salons, co-working spaces and educational centres, attracting hundreds of students and young professionals daily. A large portion of the debris fell onto an adjoining tin-shed canteen frequented by students preparing for examinations such as the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE), NEET and GATE.

Also read: Saket building collapse: 26-year-old dead, eight rescued in south Delhi

Police said some of those killed and injured were medical aspirants preparing for the FMGE. The deceased have been identified as Ravi (24), Kapil (28), Nalin Ray (23), Alok, Parvati Ojha (35), and Ekta Chand (24).

Canteen owner who was a motherly figure

Among the victims was Parvati Ojha, the owner of the canteen that had become a home away from home for many students living away from their families. A Nepal-born woman in her early 50s, she had spent more than two decades serving affordable meals to students in the area.

According to those present at the scene, Ojha rushed back into the canteen to warn people inside after noticing signs of the building collapse. She was later trapped under the debris and died.

Also read: 6 dead, 8 injured in Delhi building collapse; rescue operation on

"She was like our mother," said one medical aspirant. Students recalled how Ojha would often prepare meals not listed on the menu and ensured that no one felt like a customer. For many preparing for competitive examinations, her small eatery offered a sense of comfort and familiarity far from home.

BDS graduate

Another victim, 24-year-old Ekta Chand from Rajasthan's Alwar district, had been living in Delhi for the past year while preparing for the FMGE scheduled for June 28. A Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) graduate, she had appeared for a test on Saturday morning and was reportedly happy with her performance.

Her father, Ramesh Chand, said fellow students informed him late in the evening that they had been unable to contact her after the collapse. Her body was recovered from the debris on Sunday.

Celebration turned tragic

The tragedy also claimed the lives of Kapil, a Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) aspirant, and his friend Nalin Ray, a resident of Bihar's Nawada district. Kapil had recently performed well in a BARC interview and had gathered with friends at the canteen for a modest celebration.

Nalin, a recent BTech graduate and GATE aspirant, had spoken to his family earlier in the day and was planning to visit home during an upcoming break. Relatives said he suffered severe head injuries in the collapse.

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Ravi, another victim, sustained critical injuries after an iron rod pierced his chest, while Kapil succumbed to injuries during treatment, family members said.

Medical aspirants among injured

The injured were identified as Kshitij Pratap (25), Neelam Yadav (25), Anuj Dixit (22), Tarun (25), Saika Khan (27), Aastha (26), Aditya Sharma (24) and Vishal (25). All were rushed to the AIIMS Trauma Centre.

Police said some have since been discharged, while others remain under medical observation.

Survivors recall terrifying moments

Survivors described moments of panic as the building gave way. Ronit, a medical aspirant who was near the canteen, said he noticed part of the structure beginning to crumble before a loud crash engulfed the area in dust.

"It felt like the entire area suddenly disappeared," he said. "People were screaming and running in all directions. We could not see who was standing where."

Also read: Two dead, six rescued after Delhi building gutted in fire

Another student, Rishab, recalled hearing an unusual sound moments before the collapse. "Then suddenly there was chaos. Some people fell while trying to escape, while others were shouting for their friends," he said.

Throughout the night, students and relatives remained at the site as rescue teams searched through the rubble. Many who had escaped returned to look for classmates, co-workers and Parvati Ojha.

Inquiry underway

The collapsed structure housed coaching institutes, offices and cafes, while construction work was reportedly underway on an upper floor. A multi-agency rescue operation involving the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Delhi Fire Services, Delhi Disaster Management Authority, police and local volunteers continued through the night.

Also read: Seven, including two children of a family, were killed after building blaze in Delhi

An FIR has been registered under relevant sections, including culpable homicide, and authorities have launched a detailed inquiry into the incident

Officials said the exact cause of the collapse is yet to be determined, and investigators are examining whether structural weaknesses, ongoing construction activity or violations of building regulations contributed to the tragedy.